There is no physical award for the best player on a losing side, but if such an accolade existed in the Goulburn Valley League, the round seven gong would surely have Ben Rigoni’s initials etched into it.
Seymour’s midfield maestro had the game on a string at times during the Lions’ agonising one-point loss to Kyabram, no other time quite like his rousing goal in the fourth quarter which drew the biggest of roars from the travelling fans at Kyabram Recreation Reserve.
Rigoni ripped the ball off Kyabram’s Jason Morgan, spun the legs off Thomas Burnett and sent a swirling bomb through the sticks to send his side into the driver’s seat.
Ironically, it was Morgan who ripped the game from Seymour in the end as his decisive behind handed Ben Davey’s charges their first loss of the season.
But Rigoni’s effort in the last was just an example of his dominance against the Bombers.
No player on the park had more contested possessions (14) than the man with number two on his back for Seymour, while his total disposal count was only bettered by Kyabram’s Will Golds (31).
It was the Rigoni versus Golds show for most of the afternoon, as the pair each racked up an impressive six clearances and eight ground ball gets.
The former finished the day on 129 ranking points, the highest of any Lion on the ground, and cemented his status as one of the competition’s premier performers after a stellar outing for Goulburn Valley League during its interleague clash against Ovens and Murray.
Rigoni has began the 2023 season with the same vigour he carried through the entirety of last year.
In 2022, Rigoni topped the charts for Seymour in average contested possessions per game (13.4), tackles (6.6) and clearances (5.7).
Ben Rigoni against Kyabram
Disposals: 28
Kicks: 14
Contested possessions: 14
Marks: 6
Inside 50s: 4
One-percenters: 4
Clearances: 6
Disposal efficiency: 71%
Intercept possessions: 5